If you grew up in an Evangelical Church, there’s a good chance you are familiar with “The Sinner’s Prayer.” This is a prayer that is often used in evangelical outreaches at the end the service.
The evangelists usually invites anyone who would like to become a Christian to say a little prayer with him. Then line by line he says the prayer with a pause after each line so that people can repeat the words.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name. Amen.
After they finish the prayer he assures everyone who prayed the prayer that they are now saved and have an eternal home in heaven after they die. Similarly some people also use the sinner’s prayer in personal evangelism.
Is the Sinner’s Prayer wrong?
Certainly the prayer of a sinner who is genuinely and humbly calling out to God in faith is a beautiful and God honoring thing. We must remember the Psalms are loaded with prayers of sinful people who are confessing their sin and proclaiming their faith in God, Psalm 51 is a great example.
When Jesus taught the disciples about prayer in Luke 18:9-14 he used the example of the prayer of the tax collector.
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luk 18:13-14
What a simple and beautiful sinner’s prayer!
We can safely say that to pray a sinner’s prayer of humble confession and asking God for mercy is certainly not wrong but rather pleases God! However, I am asking a slightly different question here.
Should we use the sinner’s prayer in evangelism?
I believe the sinner’s prayer should not be used as an evangelistic tool and I think it can do far more harm than good! Here are a 3 reason why I do not use the sinner’s prayer when I share the gospel.
1. Neither Jesus nor the Apostles used it
How did Jesus talk to people about the gospel?
- He told Nicodemus he needed to be born again
- He told the young ruler he should sell all his belongings
- He told the woman at the well that she should worship in spirit and truth
- He told the crowd they should eat his flesh
Jesus responded in different ways to different people but he never once sat down with someone and led them through the sinners prayer!
They apostles also had different approaches to preaching the gospel depending upon the context but never used the sinner’s prayer. Instead what we see is a call to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
2. It can become a religious ritual and confuse people
The problem with asking someone to repeat some phrases is that it can easily turn into a religious ritual completely devoid of faith and understanding. Nearly ever religion in the world has some forms that must be repeated, some actions that must be copied, some clothing that must be worn, some ritual that will guarantee that you are now on good terms with your god.
Christianity is different, Jesus calls us to sincere inward faith not to outward forms. Our salvation is secured by faith in Jesus not by repetition of words and phrases, not even by knowledge of certain truths. This was the Pharisee’s problem.
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
Joh 5:39
To give a person a form to follow rather than and faith to live is horrid thing to do. We should be ushering them into the Kingdom of God and instead we are throwing a few bricks at them and assuring them that now they’ve got the Kingdom as long as they don’t lose the old bricks we gave them.
3. It can give false assurance of salvation
To assure someone that they are safe from the fires of hell because they repeated a few sentences that a very religious man once told them to say is utter nonsense.
If your house was on fire you’d probably dial 911. But what if you remained in your home while it filled with smoke? A little later a fireman comes running in and says,
“I’m here to rescue you!”
You reply by saying:
“I’ve already dialed 911 so I’m good, no need to rescue me now!”
That’s nonsense too! You know that it’s not the act of dialing 911 on the phone that saves you but rather the bravery and skill of the firefighter. If you want to be saved you’d better trust the fireman and do exactly as he tells you!
This is the biggest reason I don’t use the sinner’s prayer in evangelism. I simply don’t want people to go to hell with the mistaken notion that:
“I prayed the prayer, so I’m good”
If not the sinners prayer then what?
Ok, so what should we call people too who have heard and understood the gospel and want to make a positive faith response? There are two primary initial responses that we see in the New Testament.
1. Confession
If someone has truly believed they should confess their faith in Christ to others.
Because if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rom 10:9
2. Baptism
Baptism is also a form of public confession and a picture of the work of salvation that God has done in the heart. In the New Testament baptism was given immediately if possible to those who believed in Jesus.
And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, each of you on the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 2:38
